LAST GASP GOAL ENDS SKEM VICTORY BID

LAST GASP GOAL ENDS SKEM VICTORY BID

MICKLEOVER SPORTS 2 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 1

By Neil Leatherbarrow

Skelmersdale United were the victims of a “Hit & Run” raid in Derby and it cost them at least a point. In the latter stages of the match Skelmersdale were pressing very hard for a winner with a succession of efforts on goal and to an extent they were taking risks at the back as Mickleover counterattacked quickly, it was a gamble they took and this time it was a gamble they lost, four minutes into added time.

Although fielding a team weakened by injury, Skelmersdale had started well and after having a vociferous and justified penalty appeal was turned down in the 3rd minute, they got another boost “of sorts” in the 8th minute as Mickleover captain Nico Degirolamo was sent off for a cynical foul on Dan Mitchley when the inform was striker was clean in on goal.

The comment “of sorts” is appropriate because Mitchley was odds on to score and the goal would have made it a different game completely and in many ways being down to ten men, forced Mickleover into a style of play that made them very difficult to play against.

Chances after that in the first-half were not many.
For Skelmersdale Mitchley had a shot tipped over the bar by home goalkeeper Tom Turner and a Louis Corrigan free-kick was deflected wide with the other main opportunity for Skelmersdale.

Both Rob McIntosh and Tony Rendell had both picked up knocks as the half progressed and Mickleover were still able to cause a few problems for Skem, Martin Fearon making one excellent save at Gary Ricketts feet and another from an Anthony Griffiths-Junior attempt.

Skelmersdale pressed after the interval and Chris Almond was fractions from connecting with a header to a Corrigan cross, then Mitchley saw a shot deflected over the bar for a corner, before Rendell headed wide at the far post.

The game became more and more stretched as Skelmersdale pushed forward (leaving gaps) and Mickleover became more reliant on pace in attack after Ricketts was replaced. It proved a crucial change.

In one of their counterattacks Mickleover struck in the 74th minute, Charlie Dawes taking advantage of a loose pass by slotting the ball home after a run at goal.

George Donnelly had come on for Skem around the hour mark and straight from the restart he set off on a powerful determined run at the Mickleover defence, he then rolled the ball sideways across the penalty area and Almond side-footed home from about 10 yards out.

In the last ten minutes it was clear that the temptation of taking all three points meant a risk at the back was worth taking for Skelmersdale, often they have benefited from such a move.
Donnelly, Mitchley, Phil Mooney and Kenny Strickland all went close with near misses or bringing some fine save out of keeper Turner as Mickleover wasted time and hung on. Then the inevitable happened four minutes into added time, a counterattack saw Andy Dales in plenty of space and he drove the ball low into the net in.

There was still time left for Corrigan to slam the ball against the home crossbar, but it just wasn’t Skelmersdale’s night. It had been a strange game throughout.

MICKLEOVER SPORTS: Turner, Bennett, Spencer, Broadhead, Wiley, Degirolamo ©, Dales, Griffiths-Junior, Ricketts (Oshoboke, 71), McGrath (Walker, 48), Dawes

SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Fearon, Rendell, Holden, Hardwick, McIntosh © (Mooney, 61), Burton, Almond, Strickland, Mitchley, Donaldson (Donnelly, 63), Corrigan

Referee: R.Dadley Attendance: 167